He might have kept his fans waiting for nearly two hours, but after his two-year hiatus they would happily have waited a dozen more.

Michael Jackson last night unveiled his last-ever tour dates with a bizarre and disjointed speech delivered to screaming crowds at London's O2 Arena.

The 50-year-old king of pop appeared in a trademark sequined military jacket and dark glasses to announce the dates for a "final curtain call" in the UK this summer - but said little else about his plans for the future or his where-abouts in the recent past.

Introduced by television presenter Dermot O'Leary, Jackson repeatedly approached and walked away from the microphone before saying: "Thank you all. This is it. I just want to say these will be my final shows, performances in London. This will be it.

"When I say this is it, I really mean this is it," he added.

The controversial star waved at his emotional fans, telling them: "I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is the final curtain call, okay, and I'll see you in July."

After a brief speech largely drowned out by cheers and screams, he departed the stage, shouting to the crowd: "I love you."

Immediately after the press conference, a statement was issued confirming that Jackson will play 10 shows at the O2 Arena this summer, and that the gigs would be his last.

"Michael Jackson has not played a series of concerts since he last toured 12 years ago," the statement said. "These dramatic shows promise an explosive return with a band of the highest calibre, a state-of-the-art stage show and incredible surprise support acts."

Rob Hallett, president of International Touring at AEG Live, added: "We are delighted to facilitate the return of the king of pop. Long may he reign.

"Michael at the 02 this summer will surely be the highlight of the musical year. When Michael Jackson performs, the eyes of the world will be watching.

"Look out for an international flavour to the audience, as these will be his only concerts in the world this year."

Jackson has sold more than 750 million records worldwide and has 13 Grammy awards, and concert organisers said he would become the only artist ever to take over an entire ad break when he appears uninterrupted for three-and-a-half minutes between segments of Dancing On Ice this Sunday evening.

He has been embroiled in controversy during recent years after his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges in the US. Concerns for Jackson's health, as well as a tarnished reputation from his erratic behaviour, will raise questions over whether he can still be a thriller, and pundits are already predicting that Jackson will pull out of his summer shows.

Those fans who can't get hold of tickets for the concerts will also have the opportunity to buy the financially troubled singer's belongings after a top Hollywood auction house vowed to press ahead with the sale despite a lawsuit being brought against them.

Hundreds of exhibits from Jackson's Neverland ranch, including the singer's famous crystal encrusted gloves, a Rolls-Royce and fedoras from the Billie Jean video, are all up for grabs.

Darren Julien, chief executive of Julien's Auctions, which is showcasing the lots at a preview in Ireland, claimed Jackson's manager had approved everything over the past eight months.

However, Jackson's company MJJ Productions launched a legal action in Los Angeles Superior Court yesterday against Julien's Auctions as the singer prepared to unveil his comeback tour.

More than 2000 items of memorabilia from Jackson's life and career will be sold during a four-day auction in Beverly Hills, but the LA lawsuit claims many of the items taken by the auctioneers are "priceless and irreplaceable" and describes the attempt to sell them as "malicious, fraudulent, extreme, outrageous and without any legal justification whatsoever".

Responding to the claims, Mr Julien said: "If it is true and he is stating that there are items he does not want sold, why would he have ever given us the items in the first place?"

Tickets for the concerts will go on sale at 7am on March 13, priced at between £50 and £75 each, though booking agent Ticketmaster said some would be released to customers who registered early.